What's New? Criminal Procedure Rules

March 2015

The Criminal Procedure (Amendment No 2) Rules 2015

The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee has made some further changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules, about a new trial procedure in magistrates’ courts. The guide to the new rules, below, describes those changes. The new rules are published on the Legislation website. When they come into force, on 6 April 2015, the changes they make to the Criminal Procedure Rules will appear on this website, too.

Vacancy for a Criminal Procedure Rule Committee member

The Lord Chief Justice wishes to appoint a magistrate member of the Rule Committee, on the expiry of the present member’s term. The appointment is open only to people who are already magistrates. The closing date for applications is noon on Monday 30 March 2015. There is a description of the appointment, with instructions about how to apply, in the notice beneath.

February 2015

Criminal Procedure Rule changes come into force

Some of the changes made by the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2015 came into force on Monday 2 February, 2015. The Rules page on this website now includes those changes. They affect Parts 6, 17, 39, 52 and 76 of the Criminal Procedure Rules.

January 2015

The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2015

The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee has made some changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules. The guide to the new rules, below, describes those changes. The new rules are published on the Legislation website. When they come into force, the changes they make to the Criminal Procedure Rules will appear on this website, too.

October 2014

The Criminal Procedure Rules 2014 and the Criminal Practice Directions

The Criminal Procedure Rules 2014 came into force on Monday 6 October, 2014. On the same day, amendments to the Criminal Practice Directions made by the Lord Chief Justice came into force. The Rules page on this website now contains the up to date rules and practice directions, including a new consolidated edition which can be read online or downloaded.

September 2014

Criminal Procedure Rule Committee appointment

Tessa Szagun has retired from the Committee. We are indebted to her for her service. The Lord Chancellor has appointed Sîan Jones as the justices’ clerk Committee member.

August 2014

Magistrates’ courts trial preparation form

The Lord Chief Justice has authorised an amendment to the list of standard trial preparation time limits at page 7 of the magistrates’ courts trial preparation form. Time limit (d) (Application for disclosure) has been rewritten to clarify the obligation on the defendant when making an application for prosecution disclosure.

The form appears under the heading ‘Part 3 – Case management’ on the Forms page.

Practice Direction amendments

The Lord Chief Justice has made amendments to the Criminal Practice Directions and the Criminal Costs Practice Direction. The amendments are published on the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary website. When the amendments come into force, on Monday 6th October, 2014, the text will appear on this website, too.

June 2014

The Criminal Procedure Rules 2014

The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee has made this year’s restatement of the Criminal Procedure Rules. The Rules will come into force on Monday 6th October, 2014.

The new rules are published on the Legislation website. When they come into force, the text will appear on this website, too. Until then, the existing Criminal Procedure Rules remain in force (the Criminal Procedure Rules 2013, amended by the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2013 and the Criminal Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2013).

April 2014

Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Rules come into force

The rest of the changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules made by the Criminal Procedure (Amendment No 2) Rules 2013 came into force on Monday 7 April 2014. The changes were announced in December. The new rules about deferred prosecution agreements came into force on 24 February 2014. The Rules page on this website now includes all the changes.

March 2014

New magistrates’ courts trial preparation form and guidance notes

The Lord Chief Justice has authorised the use in magistrates’ courts of an amended form for preparation for trial, where the defendant pleads not guilty, and new notes for guidance on using the form. They were devised by the Rule Committee’s case management group, which includes members of the Committee and other practitioners.

The changes are designed to help courts, and the parties, avoid unnecessary hearings and to help make sure that the trial takes place on time and effectively.

The form and notes appear under the heading ‘Part 3 – Case management’ on the Forms page.

February 2014

Criminal Procedure Rules about deferred prosecution agreements

The rules about deferred prosecution agreements which were included in the Criminal Procedure (Amendment No 2) Rules 2013 came into force on Monday 24 February, 2014. The Rules page on this website now contains those rules, in Part 12 of the Criminal Procedure Rules.

New form of statutory declaration

The Lord Chief Justice has authorised a new form of statutory declaration for use in connection with rule 37.11 of the Criminal Procedure Rules where a defendant did not know about a case until after the trial. The new form appears under the heading ‘Part 37 – Trial and sentence in a magistrates’ court’ on the Forms page.

Archive versions of criminal procedure rules

Archive versions of the criminal procedure rules are available for reference from the National Archives.